Reproductive health:
Addressing the gaps
Reproductive health workstream objectives
Empowering every woman to navigate her reproductive health with confidence by breaking down barriers to care, promoting resilience and well-being from the first menstrual period (menarche) to menopause.
Support improved recognition and management of key health considerations including contraception, menstrual changes, and other relevant health concerns in perimenopause.
Develop and implement counselling approaches for comprehensive, holistic care to address contraceptive needs and menstrual disorders in perimenopause.
Enhance awareness of contraceptive considerations and menstrual irregularities by implementing educational initiatives and clinical practice-based interventions.
Joint initiatives with the menopause workstream
- To educate and mentor emerging champions for women’s reproductive health
- To build a platform of resources to enhance women’s and health care professionals’ knowledge
Raising awareness of irregular bleeding in perimenopause
Irregular bleeding or “variable length” cycles are often an early symptom of perimenopause and may be associated with anxiety and concerns for many women.1-3 Changes to bleeding should justify a discussion between the woman and her health care provider. This is an important opportunity to explore the menopausal transition and available interventions.
Although changes to the frequency or heaviness of menstrual bleeding is very common during perimenopause, it is largely a neglected symptom that is unfamiliar to many women in this phase of their life.1-3 High-quality evidence and standardized care recommendations are lacking. As the Women’s Health Academy, we are committed to increasing awareness of irregular bleeding or “variable length” menstrual cycles and available interventions to optimize care for these women.
Demystifying contraceptive needs during perimenopause
Perimenopause can bring on changes to contraceptive needs and should prompt a discussion between a woman and her health care provider. As the Women’s Health Academy, we aim to increase awareness and access to information related to contraceptive care during this critical life stage.
Available resources
Understanding the unique characteristics that define women’s experiences during perimenopause is critical to ensure that women receive the best possible care. The Women’s Health Academy has developed a suite of practical resources for perimenopause-specific topics that will support shared decision-making between women and health care professionals.